The economic recession in the Netherlands has made it difficult for the government to persevere with fiscal austerity, which could provide a temporary boost to food and drink sales in the country. However, given the government's role in promoting public finance reform across the eurozone, the coalition is unlikely to change course for the time being and will respond to missed fiscal targets with further budget savings. An expected return to positive economic growth in 2014 would provide some cover for the government's austerity agenda. Nevertheless, we do not expect much dynamism in the country's food and drink market in the short term, with discounted goods remaining popular amid high unemployment and rising inflation.